Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport of the Russian Federation (RosMorRechFlot) in its March 26, 2010 (N AD-46-p) Decree has approved the “Program of categories of navigational equipment and its operation term, guaranteed dimensions of ships, as well as the operation term of the hydraulic structures during navigation of 2010-2012". All preparatory work is being completed to open navigation, the Ministry of Transport press service said.
“Waterworks and technical fleet have been prepared. The planned opening of navigation in the southern regions of Russia’s inland waterways in the Azov-Don basin and in the Volga-Don Ship Canal has been scheduled by Program from April 1st, 2010", the Transport Ministry statement said.
However, in connection with appeals of shipping companies and through coordinated work of the Volga-Don and Azov-Don waterways and shipping state basin managements, ahead of schedule, on March 27, 2010 the first vessels passed in the lower reaches of the Volga through the Volgograd gateway, and on March 29 at 08:00am ships began transit via navigation dam of Kochetov waterworks facility.
According to the Program navigation in the Middle and Lower Volga will start from April 2nd, in the Moscow-Oka basin and the Upper Volga from April 24th, in the Volga-Baltic Waterway - from April 30, in Lake Ladoga - from May 5th.
However, depending on ice conditions, the navigation terms can be corrected, the Ministry of Transport said. The navigation in the northern basins - the White Sea-Onega, Northern Dvina and Pechora will be open since mid-April, in the rivers of Siberia and the Far East, depending on ice condition, the navigation will start in the first half of May.
“Waterworks and technical fleet have been prepared. The planned opening of navigation in the southern regions of Russia’s inland waterways in the Azov-Don basin and in the Volga-Don Ship Canal has been scheduled by Program from April 1st, 2010", the Transport Ministry statement said.
However, in connection with appeals of shipping companies and through coordinated work of the Volga-Don and Azov-Don waterways and shipping state basin managements, ahead of schedule, on March 27, 2010 the first vessels passed in the lower reaches of the Volga through the Volgograd gateway, and on March 29 at 08:00am ships began transit via navigation dam of Kochetov waterworks facility.
According to the Program navigation in the Middle and Lower Volga will start from April 2nd, in the Moscow-Oka basin and the Upper Volga from April 24th, in the Volga-Baltic Waterway - from April 30, in Lake Ladoga - from May 5th.
However, depending on ice conditions, the navigation terms can be corrected, the Ministry of Transport said. The navigation in the northern basins - the White Sea-Onega, Northern Dvina and Pechora will be open since mid-April, in the rivers of Siberia and the Far East, depending on ice condition, the navigation will start in the first half of May.